From: 	Brad Fries <brad@northlandus.com>
To:	JLEVINE@portlandmaine.gov
CC:	HCD@portlandmaine.gov; anichols@developmentsvcs.com; josh@northlandus.com; rex@northlandus.com
Date: 	10/21/2015 11:13 AM
Subject: 	Century Plaza - Kennebec Street Bike Path Discussion Meeting Minutes

Hi Jeff,

In follow up to our meeting yesterday regarding the bike path discussion at the Marginal Way site, we wanted to follow up with some informal meeting minutes to summarize our discussion.

Location:
Jeff Levine's Office
389 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101

Time:  11:00am October 20, 2015

Attendees:
Rex Bell, Vandelay Industries ℅ Northland Enterprises (RB)
Josh Benthien, Vandelay Industries ℅ Northland Enterprises (JB)
Brad Fries, Vandelay Industries ℅ Northland Enterprises (BF)
Alan Nichols, Development Services of New England (AN)
Jeff Levine, Planning & Urban Development Department (JL)

Topics:

1‑1:  Kennebec Street Road Drainage/Grading/Traffic Issues
Discussion:  AN explained that we have several issues with the currently approved civil design near the southerly entrance drive to the site on Kennebec Street with regard to stormwater drainage, finish grades, and traffic flow.    The consensus was that the section of brick sidewalk/bike path to the East of the southerly entrance drive could potentially be modified from its current design to address these issues.  Currently, the civil design on this part of the site involves raising the grade at the brick sidewalk/bike path with granite curbing separating the sidewalk/path from the roadway.  The current design also indicates a one‑way street at this section of Kennebec Street which seems to create an issue with traffic flowing to/from Brattle Street.

Action:  Northland will consult with their civil engineer to propose modifications to this section of the site in an attempt to address these issues which will be submitted to the city as an amendment to the Level II site plan approval for this project.  The proposed modifications will likely impact the design of the bike path at this section which JL seemed to be open to.

1‑2:  Bike Path – 1 Marginal Way
Discussion:  There is a section of proposed bike path in Kennebec Street directly in front of 1 Marginal Way which was included in the Level II site plan approval for the 195 Kennebec St. project which poses a few problems for the developer.  One issue is that the cost of this section of bike path is approximately $27k which is substantial and doesn't seem reasonable for this project since this section of path is not bordering the subject property.  (Note: The section of bike path in front of 195 Kennebec Street is less than $10k by comparison.)  The second issue is that the proposed bike path severely prohibits the developer (who also owns 1 Marginal Way) from further developing the site at 1 Marginal Way in the future.  (Note: The developer has conceptual plans to demo the existing Enterprise building and redevelop with a multi‑story new building with a mix of retail and housing.)  The last issue is that the developer's earthwork contractor was hoping to start construction of the bike path this fall.

JL agreed with Northland that it didn't make sense to move forward at this time with the construction of this section of bike path since there seems to be viable alternatives to consider.  JL suggested that delaying this piece of the work would also require the city to hold the developer's performance guarantee until the work was completed which seemed reasonable to both parties.  Meanwhile, doing so would allow both parties to continue pursuing possible alternatives to the bike path in front of 1 Marginal Way. That said – JL indicated that the general consensus from several members at the city level was that the location of the bike path on Kennebec Street was not likely to change despite the developer's request to relocate it behind 200/202 Kennebec Street.

Action:  JL requested a breakdown of cost for the section of bike path directly in front of 1 Marginal Way at Kennebec Street which Northland will follow up with. JL suggested that he could start pursuing some viable alternatives with city planning staff members to modify this section of bike path.

Northland is also going to pursue a conceptual design relocation of the proposed bike path from Kennebec Street to behind 200/202 Kennebec Street for the city to review and consider.

1‑3:  Bike Path – 195 Kennebec Street
Discussion:  The section of brick sidewalk/bike path in front of 195 Kennebec Street is scheduled to start construction this fall.  The group discussed pushing this work off until Spring knowing that part of the design could potentially be modified due to the possible changes to the bike path and also with regard to the street parking on Kennebec Street.  Northland expressed its concern with not having this piece of the site work complete prior to tenants' Certificate of Occupancies being issued.  The current plan is not to touch the existing brick sidewalk and curbing this fall/winter and to leave in place until next Spring with the intent to hash out the final revisions and modifications over the winter.  The new parking lot paving would butt up against the existing sidewalk as per the site plan.

Action:  JL offered to speak with Phil DiPierro to make him aware that the new sidewalks and bike path will not be in place at the time tenants are in need of Certificates of Occupancy.  The understanding is that the city will allow the tenants to obtain a conditional C of O until the brick sidewalks and bike path work is complete in the Spring of 2016.

1‑4:  Kennebec Street Parking

Discussion:  JB mentioned to JL that Northland has already approached the city with their concerns about lack of on‑street parking at Kennebec Street for the sake of future tenants.  The developer still wishes to explore the possibility of adding on‑street parking at Kennebec Street.  JL seemed to be open to this possibility in discussing with planning staff members.

Action:  No definitive action required on this item right now but the understanding is that both parties will continue pursuing this as further modifications are made to the bike path.

Thanks again for taking the time to sit down with us.  We appreciate your efforts in finding a common goal that works for both parties.

Regards,

Brad Fries
Development Director
Northland Enterprises LLC
17 South Street, 3rd Floor
Portland, Maine 04101
P: (207) 780‑0223 x204
C: (207) 232‑0250
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